Which Councils Control the Cotswolds?

The Cotswold Parliamentary Constituency is subject to two tiers of local government:

• Gloucestershire County Council ( www.gloucestershire.gov.uk )
• Two District Councils (Cotswold and Stroud)
• All Cotswold District Council ( www.cotswold.gov.uk ) wards fall within the Cotswolds Constituency.
• Some Stroud District Council (www.stroud.gov.uk ) wards (North Nibley Parish, Minchinhampton, Wotton Under Edge and Kingswood) also fall within the Cotswold Constituency.

Gloucestershire County Council

Gloucestershire County Council is based at Shire Hall, Westgate Street, Gloucester.  The Council is Conservative controlled.

The Council's current composition is:

• Conservative   40
• Liberal Democrats   14
• Labour  5
• People Against Democracy   2
• Green   1

Cotswold District Council

Cotswold District Council is based in Cirencester.  The Council is Conservative controlled.

The Council's current composition is:

• Conservative   22
• Liberal Democrats   10
• Independent   4

Stroud District Council

Stroud District Council is (unsurprisingly) based in Stroud.  The Council is Conservative controlled.

The Council's current composition is:

• Conservative   24
  
• Conservative (No Group)  2
  
• Liberal Democrats   6
• Labour   11
• Green   6
• Independent   1

How Do Councils Work?

Councils operate a cabinet system of local government in which the responsibility for making decisions now rests with a cabinet made up of senior councillors.

The cabinet comprises the Council Leader and other councillors, called Deputies.  The number of deputies is dependent on the number of portfolios the Leader thinks necessary to run the Council effectively. 

Policy framework and budget proposals are the responsibility of full council. Three 'overview and scrutiny' committees are responsible for reviewing decisions made by the cabinet and ensuring that the council is meeting electors' expectations and needs.